Inspiring Wealth Creation

This book was prompted by two main considerations. First the belief of the author that at the heart of any genuine growth in an economy are the entrepreneurs. They initiate startups, have the qualities to be successful and know how to  cope with set backs and failures when they occur.  The second factor is the uncovering of a succession of stories about such people that has led to substantial wealth and job creation.

Because of the authors background the stories are based initially on the South Wales City of Swansea, and are technology based.

However there is no doubt that such stories will be replicated across the UK and more widely.

It is the author’s contention that any constructive policy towards genuine and sustainable economic growth  should include identifying and supporting  such entrepreneurs and providing an attractive environment for them, including  removing the strong tendency for the public sector to be excessively risk averse and accepting that failure does inevitably occur and is something from which to learn.

Ten of the entrepreneurs written about are from the nineteenth century and were responsible for making their town a world-recognised centre for the metallurgical industries, a period that lasted for over a hundred and fifty years before it went into decline. Many were attracted to the area at that time  because of the job opportunities.

Twenty further present-day entrepreneurs are presented that have created substantial wealth also, this time based on modern generic technologies. In contrast many have left the area and are to found in other parts of the world

Between these two periods the University of Swansea was founded and its role and effect  on wealth creation are also presented

Finally during the writing if this book the author became aware of the power and compound semiconductor initiative in South Wales. This ‘Cluster’ represents a major opportunity for  South Wales as a way of offsetting job losses through the decline of the steel industry. This forms the final chapter of his book.